Who is Francisco Oropeza, the man suspected of killing five people in Texas over the weekend? According to reports, the 38-year-old had no criminal record to speak of, and was known to his neighbors as a quiet family man. Two miles of woodland near Cleveland, Texas, are currently being searched by more than 250 officers, who are using drones, dogs and ATVs in the hunt for Oropeza. However, police say they have received "zero leads" in the case. The next-door neighbor of the suspect had reportedly complained about the noise caused by Oropeza firing his .223 rifle in his front yard for hours on Friday. The complaint came in to the police in San Jacinto County at 10.15pm. Just over three hours later, officers were called back to the neighbor's home, where they discovered that five people, all of whom were Honduran, had been shot and killed on the property. The victims include an eight-year-old boy. The police say that the shell casings found at the scene are consistent with rifle commonly used by Oropeza.

With the recent lawsuit filed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the power of the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court ruling is being invoked. The 2010 Supreme Court ruling set a precedent that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts to support or oppose any political candidate as long as such spending was independent of the candidate. Democrats strongly opposed the ruling, fearing corporations would have an undue influence over politicians. However, today, the same ruling is being cited by Disney as the company challenges the Florida governor for violating its right to freedom of speech. The lawsuit filed by Disney alleges that Governor DeSantis retaliated against the company after CEO Bob Iger spoke out about Florida's "Parental Rights in Education Act" (dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law). Legal experts assert that precedent set in Citizens United may work in favor of Disney’s lawsuit. Some Republicans, like GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, have criticized Governor DeSantis's attack against the company, suggesting DeSantis's campaign against Disney undermines his crusade for freedom.

As the conflict in Sudan rages on, the US government organized a second convoy of US citizens to evacuate from Port Sudan on Sunday. This evacuation effort is part of the larger plan to ensure that all Americans in the area are safe amidst the violence between rival military and paramilitary groups. The US government has been using intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to support the air and land evacuation routes for these Americans recently. Armed drones had escorted hundreds of Americans on the 500-mile journey from Khartoum to Port Sudan on Saturday. The US government likely will release an exact number of the number of people evacuated once they arrive safely in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The State and Defense Departments have also been closely coordinating to move naval assets in the area to provide necessary support for these evacuations. The US government has contracted 16 buses in total and is making use of armed drones in its evacuations to ensure the safety of US citizens.

Katie Sorensen, a social media influencer who falsely accused a couple of trying to kidnap her children, has been found guilty of lying to law enforcement. Sorensen, who had a significant following on Instagram, posted videos detailing the alleged attempted kidnapping outside of a Michaels store in Petaluma in December 2020. The videos went viral and garnered more than 4 million views before Sorensen made her account private. However, investigators found discrepancies in her story, and the couple she had accused was cleared of any wrongdoing. Last week, Sorensen was convicted of making a false report of a crime to a detective, a misdemeanor that carries up to six months in jail. While her attorney claims that she “misperceived and misunderstood a series of random events,” many legal experts view the verdict as a form of accountability. The case highlights the potential impact of social media and the responsibility influencers have to accurately represent the truth.

President Joe Biden used his remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner to address concerns about his age going into the 2024 election. Recent polls reveal that many Americans have questions about the age of the 80-year-old Biden, and concerns about the President's age was "the thing that people bring up first." However, Biden took an inspired move by addressing the issue head-on, but with humor. The President joked about his age, saying, "Look, I get that age is a completely reasonable issue. It's in everybody's mind." He then added, "Headline: 'Biden's advanced age is a big issue. Trump's, however, is not.'"

If political history is any guide, Biden's jokes about his age could be the key to disarming concerns regarding his age. Biden's remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner were a tour de force, completing moving between topics, and in turns, serious and playful. He used the opportunity to forcefully demand the release of wrongly detained journalists, and he warned the crowd of assembled reporters, politicians, celebrities, and dignitaries that democracy remains at risk.

Cable news underwent a dramatic shift on Monday, as Fox News fired Tucker Carlson, its most popular prime-time host, just hours before CNN announced the departure of Don Lemon. While Fox News stated that the reasons behind Carlson's exit were "agreed to part ways,” Evgeny Popov, a Russian state TV host, alleged that Carlson's firing was connected to statements he made about last September’s explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines. During his show Tucker Carlson Tonight, Carlson suggested that the United States might be behind the blasts. Popov claimed that Carlson’s firing was “because of Russia,” and said that when the truth is spoken on air of the most popular political program in the country, someone will have to be held accountable. Meanwhile, there has been speculation that the blasts were a “deliberate act of sabotage,” but at the time, President Joe Biden did not accuse Russia of being behind it. Carlson's firing occurred soon after the company paid $787.5 million to settle a defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems, but it was the private messages sent by Mr. Carlson that had been redacted in previous legal filings showing him making highly offensive and crude remarks that were the catalyst for his departure.

Santiago Pena, conservative presidential candidate for the ruling Colorado Party, appears to have secured victory in Paraguay's presidential election, with a 16-point lead over his center-left rival Efrain Alegre after over 96% of votes have been counted. Anti-establishment challenger, Paraguayo Cubas, followed in third place. The result also saw the Colorado Party and right-wing party candidates performing well in congressional elections and governorships, leading to a historic Colorado majority in provinces over opposition rivals. However, a larger-than-expected share of the vote for Paraguayo Cubas reflected wider support for anti-establishment candidates in Latin America as a whole. Pena now faces the task of steering Paraguay's farm-driven economy, downsizing a major fiscal deficit, and balancing pressure from soy and beef producers to align with China's markets. The election result highlights the Colorado Party's dominance, which has held power for all but five of the last 75 years despite rising discontent over corruption allegations and the economy. The conservative party is bullish about its future, with Pena promising "social peace, dialogue, fraternity, and national reconciliation" in his victory speech.

A tornado touched down in Virginia Beach on Sunday evening, causing damage to at least 12 homes and trees down on a vehicle and a house. The storm started in Fort Story area in northeastern Virginia Beach, and passed through the Great Neck area around 6:00 pm. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, and residents were transported to shelters as the Great Neck Recreation Center. Residents also reported gas leaks, while Dominion Energy reports thousands of customers lost power during the storm. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado soon after, and the authorities canceled Something in the Water festival performances for the evening. The City of Virginia Beach urged people to call 911 for emergencies and 311 for other impacts or information. As of now, there have been no reports of injuries, but the extent of the damage will be confirmed on Monday when a survey is conducted.

The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have agreed to extend a ceasefire for 72 hours, but it remains to be seen if it will hold amid ongoing deadly hostilities. The UN has warned that the conflict could escalate into one of the world's worst civil wars if not stopped early. The violence has already killed at least 528 people, with the number possibly being higher. The crisis could lead all of East Africa into a humanitarian disaster with food prices in Sudan skyrocketing. Civilians continue to flee to neighboring countries, with over 20,000 people reportedly fleeing to Chad, 4,000 into South Sudan, 3,500 into Ethiopia, and 3,000 to the Central African Republic. The UK says it will no longer offer evacuation flights, while Indonesia and China continue to evacuate their citizens. The world community has called for negotiations to end the conflict. But will these efforts be enough to prevent Sudan from spiraling into a full-blown civil war?

Conspiracy theorists are pointing to an incident during Game 7 of the Bruins-Panthers series as evidence that the NHL is scripted, as the TNT scorebug appeared to know that a goal was coming shortly before it happened. However, it's more likely that someone at the network accidentally pressed a button. Regardless, the Panthers tied up the game 3-3 with only minutes left to play, leading to a tense overtime period. Meanwhile, tensions were high on the ice as referee Steve Kozari was caught on a hot mic telling Bruins player Brandon Carlo not to "f*cking test me" after Carlo questioned a roughing call. This incident was picked up by the TNT broadcast, leading to some embarrassment for the NHL.

In other Game 7 developments, Panthers coach Paul Maurice was irate over a penalty call against defenseman Brandon Montour, which led to a power play for the Bruins. Tensions were high throughout the game as both teams fought for a win in a decisive matchup.

A confirmed tornado hit Virginia Beach on Sunday evening, causing damage to multiple homes and boats. The tornado struck the Fort Story area just before 6 p.m., and at least 12 homes were damaged. Emergency crews were able to pick up residents who needed transportation to a shelter, which was being set up at the Great Neck Recreation Center. No injuries were reported. The Virginia Beach Fire Department was responding to "calls for major storm damage to multiple homes" in the Great Neck area. Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Port of Virginia Maritime Incident Response team are also on site to assess damage and recover the boats. The Virginia Beach Festival that was planned for Sunday evening was canceled due to the storm. Dominion Energy reports that about 2,089 customers are without power, with approximately 1,200 in Windsor Woods alone. This is an ongoing story, and further details are yet to come.

The Boston Bruins blew a pair of third-period leads and lost Game 6 to the Florida Panthers, forcing a Game 7 on home ice. The Bruins have not been themselves since taking a 3-1 series lead, with goalie Linus Ullmark allowing 10 goals in the last two games. Coach Jim Montgomery has been contemplating whether to start Jeremy Swayman or stick with Ullmark, a decision which will have an impact on the Bruins' fortunes. The Bruins had won an NHL-best 65 games in the regular season and taken a single-season record, but they are now in danger of being eliminated in the first round, having lost three games in a row. The Panthers, on the other hand, have played valiantly and completed an unprecedented comeback from a 3-1 deficit. In Game 7, the Bruins will need to tighten up their defence and avoid giving their opponents good scoring opportunities. They will also need a clean performance from Ullmark if he starts, or a strong performance from Swayman if he is called upon. With their season on the line, the Bruins will need a complete and disciplined effort to overcome their defensive struggles and advance past the Panthers.

Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers made a bold claim after scoring the winning goal in Game 5 against the Boston Bruins. While receiving the game puck, he told his team to “Remember this room. We’ll be back for Game 7.” Although he didn't go as far as guaranteeing a Game 7 win, the statement is still stirring things up.

Tkachuk is known for his confidence, and he has been a force in the playoffs so far. He's walking the walk with five goals and five assists in the first five games against the seemingly unbeatable defense of the Bruins. As the series heads back to Florida, Tkachuk's promise will be put to the test.

While the Panthers have history on their side, with a Game 7 win in Boston in 2010, the Bruins have a proven track record in elimination games. If the Panthers want to win Game 7, they will need their star player to continue his hot streak. With the series tied at 3-3, it's anyone's game, but fans will be watching closely to see if Tkachuk can deliver on his promise.

Adam Lambert may not have won American Idol, but the show proved to be a great learning experience for the singer. Even after facing backlash for his sexuality and controversial performances, Lambert managed to emerge victorious and become a successful musician. Although some viewers were critical of his openly gay identity at the time, he explained that he was "very comfortable and secure with who I was" and that it was never a secret. Lambert's time on American Idol taught him valuable lessons in navigating the music industry, and he has since released five solo albums and toured with the legendary band Queen. Despite being threatened with a lawsuit and blacklisted from the industry after a controversial performance, Lambert has always managed to bounce back and continue his success.

Tyler Bertuzzi has been a playoff star for the Boston Bruins, with three points in two games and three goals in six games. Originally acquired at the NHL trade deadline for depth due to injuries, Bertuzzi has been firing on all cylinders in the playoffs. His performance could lead to a high market value and difficulty in re-signing him this offseason. He is in the final year of his $4.75 million two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings but is expected to be more expensive in his next deal. Comparables in the league place his price range between $4.95 million and $5.8 million annually, with Andre Burakovsky recently signing for $5.5 million per year for the Kraken, which could be out of the Bruins' price range. The Bruins have other notable players to sign, and Bertuzzi's stellar playoffs may lead him elsewhere. Nevertheless, he has been a great fit for the Bruins, a lighter version of Brad Marchand, and an old-school-type player that brings competitiveness and edginess to the lineup.

The NHL playoffs continue with all four first-round series resuming their Game 6 on Friday night. The Seattle Kraken are just one win away from eliminating the reigning champions, the Colorado Avalanche. Despite the Avalanche having a roster of star players, the Kraken have shown that they are not intimidated and can take on the biggest challenges. Returning playoff MVP Cale Makar from a one-game suspension could give Colorado the additional push they need, but the pressure is on as they face the possibility of making history as the first reigning champions to lose to a team making its first playoff appearance in franchise history. In the East, the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes both missed their first chance to advance to the second round, whereas in the West, the Dallas Stars are on the verge of knocking off the Minnesota Wild. All eyes are on the four teams facing potential elimination as they strive to keep their playoff hopes alive. Which team will come out on top in the crucial Game 6?

Tigres and Puebla will face each other in a crucial match for Liga MX qualification on Saturday night at the Universitario stadium. With only one point in their last 5 games, Tigres is in seventh place and has yet to secure qualification for the knockout phase of the Clausura tournament. Despite their recent struggles, Tigres is still favored to win the match against Puebla due to their more qualified squad, which includes players like Gignac, Rafael Carioca, and Luis Quinones. However, Puebla has shown a good ability to play on the counterattacks, recently beating Juarez 2-0 while playing away from home. With a chance to enter the group of 12 clubs with a win, Puebla will be looking to capitalize on Tigres' current bad form. The match is expected to be a close and decisive one for both clubs. Fans can catch the match on Thursday, April 20th, at 10:05 pm ET, and bettors can take advantage of the moneyline odds offered by TUDN.

April 26, 2023

On April 26th, Tyus Jones made a seemingly simple, yet impressive, pass that turned heads. During the Timberwolves' game against the Hornets, Jones faked out defender LaMelo Ball with a behind-the-back move before threading the ball through a narrow opening to teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. The impressive assist helped secure the victory for the Timberwolves, who beat the Hornets 110-98. This play was the talk of social media after the game, with many calling it the assist of the night or even the play of the night. Jones, who has been known for his solid playmaking abilities throughout his career, has been a key contributor for the Timberwolves this season. With this impressive assist, he has certainly solidified his reputation as one of the league's premier passers. Fans will definitely be keeping an eye on him in future games, waiting to see if he makes yet another highlight-reel worthy play.

A huge fire was reported to have been caused by a Ukrainian drone strike on fuel tanks at a Russian navy depot in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol. The fire was eventually put out, and over 10 tanks of oil products intended for use by Russia's Black Sea Fleet were destroyed. This comes as the death toll from Russia's aerial attacks on cities across Ukraine has risen to at least 26, including five children with preparations for a counter-offensive against Moscow's forces nearly complete. In retaliation, Ukrainian shelling on a village in Russia's Bryansk region on Saturday evening, destroyed several buildings and two people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called all Russian soldiers who pilot and fire missiles, as well as maintain Russian ships and planes complicit in the deaths of civilians and said they "must be punished." Zelenskyy also repeated his call for the formation of an international tribunal against Russia to try war crimes similar to the Nuremberg trials against Nazi German leaders.

An Auburn man, Jeremy Mercier, has been taken into custody for shipping fentanyl worth an estimated $3 million to a local restaurant in Maine. Mac's Grill co-owner, Mike Peters, confirmed that the restaurant received the drugs, which had been shipped in a wooden crate from Arizona. However, employees who opened the crate expecting it to be filled with mugs found a plastic tote filled with fentanyl. Upon the seizure of the tote, Mercier arrived to claim his shipment and was subsequently arrested for charges that include illegal drug importation and drug trafficking. According to officials, the suspect has previously served time in prison for a drug conviction in 2007. A total of 14 kilograms of suspected fentanyl was seized by Auburn police, with Mercier not being an employee of Mac's Grill. The drug industry has caused a rise in overdoses in recent years, and Peter's expressed relief that the drugs did not make it to the streets.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging that he has violated their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Disney claims that DeSantis is punishing the company for speaking out against his "Don't Say Gay" law, which forbids public schools from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity prior to fourth grade. Although DeSantis refers to himself as a champion of freedom, his actions against Disney are being criticized as targeted government retaliation. Republicans, including GOP front-runner Donald Trump and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, have spoken out against DeSantis's crusade, which includes attempting to strip Disney of its self-governing status and even suggesting the construction of a prison near the theme park. The lawsuit against DeSantis will put his stance on freedom and what it requires to the test of constitutional law, with legal experts suggesting that his position will shatter under scrutiny.

Former Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdalla Hamdok, warns that the current violence in Sudan could have serious global ramifications if it escalates into an all-out civil war. Speaking at an event in Nairobi, Hamdok expressed concerns about the diversity of Sudan, explaining that a full-blown civil war would have serious ripple effects on the region and could surpass conflicts like Syria, Yemen, or Libya. Sudan has been experiencing a series of ceasefires, but the latest ceasefire has been extended for 72 hours starting at midnight on Sunday. The situation is dire, with hospitals running short of staff and supplies, and foreign evacuations slowing down. Fighting between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has now entered its third week, with both groups blaming each other for the violence. With warplanes hovering over Khartoum, it remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold and if peace can be restored in Sudan.

Katie Sorensen, a 31-year-old social media influencer who amassed millions of views for falsely accusing a couple of trying to kidnap her children, has been convicted for making a false report of a crime to the police. Sorensen, who posted a video on her Instagram claiming that strangers tried to kidnap her children outside the Michaels store, did not corroborate her story with available evidence according to authorities. Sorenson uploaded a video that gained over four million views before making her account private. However, the video had already attracted the attention of law enforcement and the media, which resulted in the accused couple clearing their names through their public appearance in the news. They claim that Sorensen fabricated the story to gain a stronger following and increase her income at their expense. In her defense, Sorensen's attorney stated that the accused misunderstood the situation and made an honest mistake. Some legal experts believe that the case underscores the need for accountability in the social media space, especially when one's content could inflict harm on others. The misdemeanor could carry a penalty of up to six months in prison, according to prosecutors.

The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have agreed to prolong their ceasefire for another 72 hours, in spite of continuous breaches on both sides. The truce extension was confirmed by both parties, with the army stating that the United States and Saudi Arabia mediated in the matter. The RSF tweeted that they unanimously agreed to extend the human truce period for 72 hours to make possible the opening of humanitarian corridors and the ease citizens' access to aid.

The de facto leader of Sudan, Abdel Fattah Burhan, who heads the military, has been in a power tussle with his previous deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who runs the RSF. The fighting, which began on 15th April, has been ongoing in the Khartoum region; so far, over 425 civilians have been killed, and another 2,091 have been injured. Ongoing violence has prompted the United Nations to dispatch its top humanitarian envoy to the area.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for violating their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. DeSantis had been harshly criticizing Disney's public criticism of his "Don't Say Gay" law on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. After DeSantis' campaign of retaliation against Disney, the company is suing him and is concerned that it will ultimately harm their economic future. DeSantis is also promoting a book titled The Courage to Be Free, promoting his approach, and is a founding member of the Freedom Caucus. Justin Amash, a fellow member of the Freedom Caucus, commented on Twitter that the case and the facts presented in it are not looking good for DeSantis' case, stating that he and his allies targeted Disney alone as punishment for constitutionally protected speech.

Disney and its many young workers should be allowed to express public opinions under the First Amendment, but DeSantis was attempting to punish the company, damaging its economic future with harsher conditions than those of other businesses in the state. Such aggressive tactics of DeSantis resemble former U.S. President Donald Trump's personal vendetta tactics, likely to cater to the same base. However, in the eyes of others outside of the MAGA base, DeSantis resembles a bully attempting to undermine the economy of the state he leads.